Fan type heat exchanger



y 5, 1953 A. L. BAKER FAN TYPE HEAT EXCHANGER Filed March 31, 1951Patented May 5, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 21 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved heating apparatus of the type inwhich heating is carried out with the aid of convection currentsemployed to transfer heat from a heating unit to the interiors of homes,offices, and various other build- I ings and locations where rapid andefficient heating is desired.

It is an object of the invention to devise an improved convector typeheating apparatuswhich will be highly efiicient and which may be easilyand cheaply constructed and installed as a complete operating unitoccupying a relatively small amount of space. It is also an object ofthe invention to provide means for furnishing heat in a uniform mannerwith elimination of noise, dirt,

and the like, as well as making provision for suit- I able humidifyingof air which is heated. Still another object of the invention is tocombine with a Convector type heating apparatus means for making itpossible to utilize the apparatus as a cooling unit, as well as aheating unit.

These and other objects and novel features will be more fully understoodand appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodimentof the invention selected for purposes of illustration and shown 'in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical, cross-sectionalview illusl trating the apparatus of the invention with some of theparts of the device in an operative position for heating purposes;

"Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view 1 further illustratingthe outer casing of the ap- 1 .paratus;

Fig. 3 is a plan cross-section taken on the line Fig. 4 is across-section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

accordance with well-known principles of convection of heat. The casingpreferably extends from the floor to the ceiling of the room where it isto be disposed, although the casing need notneces sarily be of anyparticular height. King thecasing I may employ an suitable mate- ".rial;such. as Wood, sheet metal, and the like, as well as combinations ofthese materials.

. As will be observed from an inspection of Fig. .1 1, the casing is ofa'generally rectangular con- 1 struction including a. frame made up ofvertical vcorner pieces 3 which may conveniently be of a U-shapedcross-section arranged in the manner;

In construct- 2 shown, and having secured thereto outer side walls 4, arear wall 4a, and a top 4b. The front side of the casing is formed witha panel P in which is mounted a door 2, as shown in Fig. 2.

Rigidly secured to the inner sides of the frame pieces 3 in parallelspaced relation to the side walls 4 at both the upper and lower ends ofthe casing, are transverse rails R, more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4.As noted therein each rail is formed with spaced-apart ribs orcorrugations R which may be pressed or formed into the rails toconstitute reinforcing guides.

It is also desirable in a casing of this type to provide for heatinsulating layers of material and I have found that I may convenientlylocate rigid layers or sheets M of fibrous insulating material in thespace included by the U-shaped frame corners lying between the outersides of the casing and the supporting members which are attached to theinner surfaces of the U-shaped corner members. This arrangement ofinsulating material has been further illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 and,as shown therein, occurs on three sides of the casing.

The front side of the casing at points above and below the panel P isformed with openings through which are slidably received two drawerlikestructures D and D which are slidably supported on the guide ribs of therails R. This may be conveniently accomplished, for example, byproviding at the side portions of each drawer-like member guide strips 5which are formed with complementary guide rib portions which are adaptedto rest snugly within guide rib portions R of the rails R. Also, thedrawer-like members D and D are formed with outer front sides which, ina closed position of the drawer-like structures in the casing,constitute a part of the front side of the casing when the latter memberis viewed in the position shown in Fig. 2.

In the front side of the lower drawer-like structure D I have providedan opening, the edges of which are turned inwardly to form a flangedportion F. Horizontally disposed through two oppolouvres being formedwith curved edges E and E which are adapted to interlock with oneanother.

.' When the louvres are opened they define air passageways 5, and inthis open position they extend downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. In such aposition the open louvres function to collect air and guide it into thecasing.

Similarly, in the front side of the drawer-like structure D I haveprovided an opening with the same flanged and pinned louvre constructionabove described, in which the louvres are denoted by the numeral 8 andthe openings defined by the louvres in an open position by thenumeral 1. The principal point of difierence in the arrangement of thelouvres, in the case of the drawer-like structure D, is that the louvresextend upwardly as shown in Fig. 1, and in this position may serve tocollect warm air and guide it downwardly of the casing where acoolingoperation is carried out, as will be described hereinafter.

With the arrangement described, and with the louvres in the openposition shown in Fig. :1, {a flow of air will normally be introducedthrough the bottom of the casing upwardly between its walls and upthrough the air outlets 1. -Moreover, by adjusting the position of thelouvres, either in part or in whole, a considerable range of control ofthe volume-of air circulated through the casing may be realized.Alternatively, the drawer-like structure after suitable rearrangem'e'ntas hereinafter described, may be used to guide warm air downwardlythrough the casing and provide coolingywh'ere this .is desired.

In accordance with the invention I combine with thecasingstr-ucturedescribed a novel heating unit, together with means for converting the"drawer-like structure D into a special air con- -duit :member havingtwo air conduit sections through which heated air passing fromthe-heating unit may be selectively guided in order to greatly enhancethe efiioiency and-heating value of convection currents circulatingthrough the casing.

The two air "conduit sections include a free 'fiow-air conduit sectioncomprised by the front part of the'member D anda forced'fiow air conduitsection'comprisedby the rear part of member'D, which latter sectioncommunicates with the free-flow air conduitsection. Bothof thesesections are located above the heating unit in such relative positionthat'free flowing' heatedair passing from the heated unit will normall-yrise and seek to passthrough the free -fiow conduit section and then outof -'the openings 1. However, when a forced flow of "air is required toprovide more heat, the free flow section ean be closed at 'itsbottomside-and the heated-air from the 'heating unit will then be directedthrough the forced flow conduit'section without=loss of heatingefficiency. 7

The heating unit of the invention is denoted by the numeral Sand isarranged so as to "aid materially'in directing-theiiow of airin-themanner described.

Thus the heating unit 9 preferably'comprises aplurality 'oftubularmembers adapted to be heated by'means of steam, hot water, or otherfluids.

members, such as noted, I have found that a substantially increasedheating area is developed for any-given size'of'casing body-and, as-aresult,'very beneficial changes'are-realized. .Air is caused'tomove intocontact with this relatively greater contact heating area and develops'increased efficiency in operation of the heating unit. This desirablefeature-isfurther enhanced "by constructing-thetubular members oftheheat- "ing'unit with a pluralityof-spaced-apart-fins of the typewhich are customarily fixed to the outer periphery of heating tubes andwhich, in the present arrangement of the invention, not only extend atright angles to the axes of the tubes but actually lie in planes adaptedto deflect heated air in the general direction of the free flow airconduit section. The combined effect of an inclined arrangement of thetubes and the fins extending at right angles from the inclined tubes isto also produce a desired baffling action by which heated air isdeflected from substantially all over the surface of the heating unitand then "circulated upwardly to the free flow air conduit sectionpasnoted.

Feed and return pipes l0 and I2, respectively, are connected to theinclined tubes 9 to supply heating fluid thereto. This is preferablyaccomplished with the aid of horizontal header and return pipes I4 and16 which extend along the respective rear and front walls of the casing,as shown. Numeral l8 denotes a vent pipe connectedat one end of thereturn pipe l6.

Located :in the casing in aninclinedposition and "in spaced relation tothe underside of the heating :unit 9 to cooperate therewith, is an airdeflecting member 20 which-acts somewhat-as a filter and which may, forexample, comprise-a -'layer of fibrous -'material, such as steel wool,or other similar fibrous substances. The member 20 operates .to bafiie:and slow flow "of air therethrough and 'to'cause such air to bedistributed throu hout a relatively greater surface area of the heatingunit 9. throu h the heating unit at a'l'ocalizedpoint such as mightotherwise occur and destroy its efliciency. The air'deflector member 2llis preferably supported .oniinclined rails 22 which are. mounted betweenthefront and rear wallsof .the casing, and with this arrangement the airdeflecting member may, when desired, be removed from the casingby'opening the door 2 at the front side of the casing and then slidingthe member 20 outwardlyalong the'rails.

'Pivotallyimounted on the returnspipe I6 is'a 'humiuiiymgunit 26 whichessentially comprises a trougn'or-container for receiving and holdingwater to be vaporized by heat transferredtrom the heating unit '9through :the walls of the trough or container 26. To facilitate thisvaporizing action .the humidifier .25 .is formed with an inner slopingside which is .adapted'to be manuallymoved.intoand out of contact withtheinclined tubesof .theheatingunits by means of a handle H. Tofacilitate heating bf :the

humidifier the fins' at the lower ends of theltubes of heating unit 9have been lefti'off, thus allowing the inclined side-of-the-humidifierin one position to rest directly upon the pipes, as shown.

In making-an ad ustmen I; of the humidifier relative to the pipes by'means of the handle H,.I may employ some convenient bearing means 101'rotaitably mounting'th'ehumidifieron the return pipe =56. 'Two sleevebearings may be used for this purpose, and a one of these bearings hasbeen illustrated in-Fig. l and denoted-by the letterl B. The underside'of :thehandle may, if desiredpbe formedwith notch portions .H'which allow the handle Hto engage with an edge .of the casing .and thusadjustably support the humidifier in different positions with respect tothe heating :tubes. It is pointed out that humidified air .rises:directly upward toward the bottom .of the free flowing-conduit sectionand becomes mixed with relatively drier air from the heating unit 4! atP0111175 illSt elow'ethe conduitisection.

Thisiprevents flow of air 1 space between the drawer sides.

verted and then inserted in the space normally occupied by drawer-likemember D. Similarly, member D may, by being turned over upon itself, beinserted in the space occupied by drawer D. That is, the drawer-likestructures are interchangeable and are slidably supported on the railsR, but the guide ribs on each drawer structure are spaced from thebottom edges of each drawer structure a distance so chosen that thebottom drawer D can only be inserted in the space of the top drawer Dwhen drawer D is in an inverted position. Likewise, top drawer D canonly be inserted in the space normally occupied by drawer D when drawerD is inverted.

As shown in Fig. 1, the drawer-like structure D is constructed somewhatdilferently from member D and includes a front, two sides, and a top,all of which are preferably welded together to form an integral body. Ashas been pointed out in an earlier point in the specification, the sidesof the member D have attached thereto guide strips S which slide in thecorrugations of the rails R. It is pointed out that the guide strips Sextend all the way back to a point closely adjacent to the rear wall ofthe casing. However, the sides of the drawer-like structure extendrearwardly only part Way and terminate at a point approximatelyintermediate the front and rear sides of the easing. The space includedby the drawer sides and the top is substantially closed by specialpartition means which include an annular bracket 32 and four cornerpieces which cooperate with the bracket to provide for substantialclosing of the The annular bracket is of a diameter approximatelycorresponding to the space between the sides of, the

drawer-like structure and at two opposite points thereon the bracket iswelded to the drawer to provide a rigid supporting body. The cornerpieces preferably are welded to the edges of the drawer and to theannular bracket, although other desirable fastening means may beemployed, if desired.

Solidly mounted to the annular bracket are inwardly converging arms 48which support between their inner extremities a motor 46 in the mannershown in Figs. 1 and 3. The motor drives a shaft on which is mounted afan 44, the blades of which turn in the opening included by the annularbracket 32. Since the motor and annular bracket are all a part of thedrawer-like structure, it will be observed that the entire assembly maybe moved in and out of the casing, at will, by sliding on the rails R.Moreover, the drawer may be completely removed from the casing and whenturned over upon itself may be in- ;serted at the opening occupied bythe drawer D, as earlier described.

Pivotally mounted between the-two sides of the drawer-like structure Dis a horizontal shaft 38 bearing thereon a shutter 40 and also attached.centrally to one edge of the shutter is a counterweight member 42, moreclearly shown in Fi s. 1 and 4. The shutter normally assumes a verticalposition when at rest, as shown in Fig. 1, and is adapted to liedirectly in front of the opening in the annular bracket32 so that it maybe swung forwardly in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 1,to close the opening formed in the drawer-like structure D.

It will be observed that the shutter 4| in the vertical positiondescribed, lies in a substantially sealing relation with the partitionmeans comprised by the annular bracket 32 and its adjacent cornerpieces. In this position the shutter occurs just in front of the fanmember 4A which is driven by the electrical motor in response to athermostat control T. Ihe blades of the member 44 project through andare free to rotate in the opening of the annular bracket 32, and whenthe fan 44 is operated it produces a current of air adapted to'force theshutter 40 downwardly into a closed position with respect to the bottomof the drawer- Ilike structure D.

'flow air conduit section formed by the top and sides of the drawer-likestructure. In this raised position of the shutter, air currents passingupwardly from the heating units 9 will all pass through this free flowair conduit section. When,

however, the shutter is closed, a second force-flow air conduit sectionis comprised by the rear portion of the drawer-like structure andimmediately ad acent parts of the casing illustrated at the extremeright-hand side of this member in Fig. 1.

In this case air currents from the heating unit 9 are drawn upwardlythrough an opening directly through the motor and fan assembly and inresponse to the drag of the fan, air is pulled or drawn through theopening in the annular bracket 32 and then passed outwardly through thefree flow air conduit section to be finally discharged through the airoutlets 'l.

. From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided anovel and efiicient convector type of heating apparatus in which arelatively large heating area is exposed to the flow of air and heatedair thus produced can be selectively routed in accordance with thedemand dictated by outside ambient temperatures, and irrespective ofwhich one of the two air flow conduit sections is in operation at anygiven time there may be always maintained a sufficient degree ofhumidification to satisfy any desired condition. In this connection'itis again pointed out that moist air and heated air are constantly mixedtogether at a point just below the free flow air conduit section. If thelatter section is open the mixture will immediately be routed throughthe section and out of the openings 1. If the shutter is in a closedposition the mixture of air is then guided rearwardly and upwardlyaround the motor and fan unit through the opening in the annular bracket32 and then through the free flow air conduit section and out of theopenings I. By ad!- justing the position of the humidifier this mix tureof moist and dry air may be varied, as desired. It will be apparent thatby interchanging the drawer-like structures in an inverted position asubstantial cooling effect may be introduced through the casing in orderto take warm air and cool it.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention it will beunderstood that various changes and modifications may be resorted to inkeeping with the spirit of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising an upright casingimember, said casing being provided with lateral air openings in itsupper and lower. portions, a heating unit mounted in said casing betweenthe lateral openings, said heating unit exposing a relatively large areafor contact with air flowing from one of the openings to the other, airconduit means supported at the upper end of" the casing and including, afree flow air' conduit section, and a forced flow air. conduit sectioncommunicating with the free flow air'conduit sections, and means forselectively controlling fiow' of air through the said air conduitsections;

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, in which the means forcontrolling'the flow of air. includes a power driven fan and a shutteroperative in response. to movement of the fan to close one; side of thesaid free flow air conduit section and cause air to enter the said airconduit means through the forced flow conduit section.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, in which the shutter is mounted ona. shaft pivoted in the free flow'air conduit means, and a counterweight is attached to the shaft to normally hold the shutter: in araised position.

4. A structure as defined in claim 2, in which the power driven fan ismounted in the forced flow section of the said air conduit means.

5. A structure according to claim 4, in which the air conduit means andthe power driven fan mounted therein are slidably received in thecasing.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising an upright casing,said casing being provided with lateral air openings in its upper andlowerend portions, a heating unit in. said casing between the lateralopenings, said heating unit exposing a relatively large area to contactwith air flowing from one of the openings to the other; airconduit meanssupported in the upper end, of the casing, said air conduit meansincluding a drawer-like structure which is open at: its under side andwhich has mounted therein a transversely disposed partition, saidpartition being arranged to form a free flow air conduit section and aforced flow air conduit section communicating with the said free flowconduit section, said partition being formed with afan aperture, a fanmounted for rotation in the opening, a motor for driving'the fan, and ashut- -ter operative in response to movement of the fan to close theopening at the bottom of the free flow air conduit section and cause airto flow throughthe forced flow air conduit section.

7:; A device as described in claim I, in which the'casing is formed atits lower end with a compartment in which the said air conduit meansmaybe received to produce a reverse fl'ow of air downwardly through thecasing, and a. drawerlike structure normally located in the saidcompartment and. adapted to be interchanged and received in the spaceoccupied by the air conduit 'means at the, top of the casing;

8; A structure according to claim I, in which the casing is.vconstructed with guides on which thesaid air conduit-meansis mounted formovement in to and out of the casing.

9. An. apparatus according to claim 6, in which the. casing is formed atits lower end with a compartment in which the said drawer-like structuremay be received to induce a flow of air downwardly through the casinspacedrapart guide means located on the sides of the drawer-likestructure, and cooperating guide rails in the casingfor slldablyreceiving and locatingthe drawerlike-structure in the said compartmentin an inwhich the drawer-like structure is constructed with a front sidewhich includes. a plurality of individually movable louvre panels.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, includinganair deflecting memberlocated in the casing below the said heating unit in a position todistribute air throughout the surface area of the heating unit.

12. An apparatus according to claim .11, including air humidifying'means located in the casing at one side of the heating unit;

13. An apparatus of the character described comprising a casingconstructed to extend substantially from the floor to the ceiling of aroom and provided with lateral air openings in its upper and lower endportions, a heating unit arranged inan inclined position in said casingbetween said. openings, said unit exposing a relatively large area tocontact with air flowing from one of said openings to the other, an aircirculating assembly comprising a fan, a motor for driving the fan, anda drawer-like structure on which said fan and motor are supported, saidcasing being provided with recesses near its top and bottom, in eitherof which said assembly'may be mounted selectively to-force air throughsaid casing either'up or down, as desired.

14. An. apparatus of the character described comprising a casingconstructed to extend substantially from the floor to the ceiling of aroom and provided with lateral air openings in its upper and lower endportions, an inclined heatingunit in said casing between said openings,said unit exposing a large area to contact with the air flowing from oneof said openings to the other, an air humidifyin member disposed at oneside of the heating unit, an air circulating assembly comprising a fan,a motor for driving said fan, a support on which said fan and motor aremounted, said assembly being positioned in said casing substantially inalignment with one of said lateral openings to force air therethrough,and said casing having guides on which said support is mounted for theslidingmovement of said assemblyinto and outof said casing;

15. Anapparatus according to claim 1, in which the heating unit issupported in an inclined position in. the. casing to provide arelatively great area of contact with air flowing therearound.

16. A structure according to claim 15, including an air; deflectingmember arranged in parallel' spaced relation to-the under side of theheating unitto distribute air flowing through the easing. throughoutsubstantially the entire contact surfaces of the heating unit.

17. An apparatus as described in claim 15, in which. the heating unit isof the convector tube type including a plurality of tubes having finsarranged in spaced-apart relation and extending'at right angles to theaxis-of the tubes, and an air deflecting member supported in the casingin spaced-apart relation to the under side of the heating unit todistribute air throughout substantially all of the contact surfaces ofthe fins of the heating unit.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the heating unit extendsfrom the front wall of the casing inwardly and upwardly to form arelatively large inclined heating surface, said heating unit including aplurality of tubular members, and fins arranged at right angles to theaxis of the tubular members, the lower end of the tubular members beingfree from the said fins, and a humidifier element rotatably supported inthe casing and arranged to lie in contact with the said tubes.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, including means for moving thehumidifying element into and out of contact with the said tubes.

20. An apparatus as described in claim 1, including means forautomatically actuating the selective control means.

21. A structure as defined in claim 2, in which the shutter is mountedon a shaft pivoted in the free flow air conduit means, and acounterweight attached to the shutter and cooperating therewith tonormally hold the shutter in substan- 15 2,503,764

10 tially sealed relationship with respect to the said forced flow airconduit section.

AUGUSTUS L. BAKER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Old;Apr. 11, 1950

